December - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

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The Free Presbyterian Church of ScotlandModerator of Synod: Rev K D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA.Clerk of Synod: Rev J MacLeod MA, 6 Church Avenue, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BU; tel: 0208 309 1623, e-mail:JMacL265@aol.com.Assistant Clerk: Rev J R Tallach MB ChB, 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, HS1 2NH; tel: 01851 702501.General Treasurer: Mr W Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE; tel: 0141 332 9283, fax 0141 332 4271,e-mail: wc.fpchurch@btconnect.com.Law Agents: Brodies LLP, 15 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8AH; tel: 0131 228 3777.Clerks to Presbyteries:Northern: Rev G G Hutton BA, 11 Auldcastle Road, Inverness, IV2 3PZ; tel: 01463 712872.Southern (pro tem): Rev J L Goldby MA, 23 Upper Cairncastle Road, Larne BT40 2EF; tel: 02828 274865.Western: Rev A E W MacDonald MA, F P Manse, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BS; tel: 01445 712247.Outer lsles: Rev K D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271.Australia and New Zealand: Rev G B Macdonald BSc, 60 Hamilton St, Riverstone, NSW 2765; tel. 02 9627 3408.Zimbabwe: Rev S Khumalo, Stand No 56004, Mazwi Road, Lobengula, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo; tel: 00263 9407131.Zimbabwe Mission Office: 9 Robertson Street, Parkview, Bulawayo; tel: 002639 62636, fax: 002639 61902, e-mail:fpchurch@mweb.co.zw.Residential Care Homes:Ballifeary House, 14 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ; tel: 01463 234679.Leverburgh Residential Care Home, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520296.Website of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland: www.fpchurch.org.uk.The Free Presbyterian MagazinePublished by The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (Scottish Charity Number SC003545). Subscriptions andchanges of address to be sent to the General Treasurer, Mr W Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE;tel: 0141 332 9283. The subscription year begins in January. Prices are on back cover. One month’s notice is requiredfor change of address. Queries about delivery of the magazines should be sent to the General Treasurer, not the printer.Editor: Rev K D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA. Tel: 01859 520271; e-mail:kdmacleod@gmail.com. Unsigned articles are by the Editor.Editorial Board: The Editor, Rev N M Ross, Rev D W B Somerset.Deadline for sending material to the Editor: The beginning of the month previous to publication.The Gaelic Supplement (quarterly): Editor: Rev A W MacColl MA PhD, F P Manse, Swainbost, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0TA.Available free on request.Youth Magazine: The Young People's Magazine. Editor: Rev K D Macleod BSc.CommunionsJanuary: First Sabbath: Nkayi; Fifth: Auckland, Inverness, New Canaan.February: First Sabbath: Broadstairs; Second: Dingwall; Third: Stornoway; Fourth: North Uist, Zenka.March: First Sabbath: Larne, Sydney, Ullapool; Second: Ness, Portree, Tarbert; Third: Halkirk, Kyle of Lochalsh;Fourth: Barnoldswick, Ingwenya, North Tolsta.April: Second Sabbath: Leverburgh, Staffin; Third: Chesley, Laide; Fourth: Gisborne, Glasgow, Mbuma.May: First Sabbath: Aberdeen, Grafton, London; Second: Achmore, Donsa, Kinlochbervie, New Canaan; Third:Edinburgh; Fifth: Chiedza.June: First Sabbath: Auckland, Farr, Perth; Second: Nkayi, Santa Fe, Shieldaig; Third: Lochcarron, Uig; Fourth:Bulawayo, Gairloch, Inverness, Raasay.July: First Sabbath: Beauly; Second: Bonar Bridge, Staffin; Third: Applecross; Fourth: Struan; Fifth: Cameron.August: First Sabbath: Dingwall; Second: Leverburgh, New Canaan, Somakantana; Third: Laide; Fourth: Stornoway,Vatten, Zenka.September: First Sabbath: Chesley, Larne, Sydney, Ullapool; Second: Halkirk, Mnaka, Portree; Third: Aberdeen,Tarbert; Fourth: Barnoldswick, Ingwenya, North Uist.October: First Sabbath: Dornoch, Grafton, Lochcarron, North Tolsta; Second: Gairloch, Ness; Third: London; Fourth:Edinburgh, Gisborne, Uig; Fifth: Mbuma.November: Second Sabbath: Glasgow; Third: Wellington; Fourth: Chiedza.December: First Sabbath: Singapore; Third: Bulawayo, Santa Fe, Tauranga.
TheFree Presbyterian MagazineVol 116 December 2011 No 12God’s Good HandNearly 80 years had passed since the first Jews had returned to Jerusalemfrom their captivity in Babylon. Now, after a four-month journey, Ezrahad reached Jerusalem with another band of returning captives and he feltgreat reason to acknowledge God’s kindness in taking them safely on theirway; it was “according to the good hand of his God upon him” (Ezra 7:9).He was, in effect, acknowledging God’s mercy. He knew he did not deservesuch kindness. He was a sinner; so what he deserved was God’s wrath andcurse for ever. But he had been made willing to receive salvation accordingto the Old Testament revelation; he had kissed the Son of God (see Psalm2:12); in other words, he had willingly and lovingly submitted to the Messiah,who was to come in the fullness of time as God’s provision for the salvationof a lost world. His natural rebellion had been subdued and so he was willingto have salvation on God’s terms. It was salvation through the suffering ofa substitute, which was so vividly typified at the temple in Jerusalem throughthe offering up of the various sacrifices.Now Ezra and his companions had reached Jerusalem safely. No doubthe had expected to meet various difficulties but, in spite of them all, Godhad brought him and his party to the end of their journey. So he was nowacknowledging that God, in His providence, had acted powerfully on theirbehalf all along the way. In his Commentary, Matthew Henry notes that, “wemust see the hand of God in the events that do occur, and acknowledge Himwith thankfulness when we have reason to call it His good hand”.When the year comes to an end, we will, if are still spared, have completedanother stage in the journey of life. Whatever difficulties we may haveexperienced on this journey, it is clear that we have been provided for inmany ways, and this should lead us again to recognise God’s goodness to usthroughout our lives, and during 2011 in particular.God’s children have particular reasons for thinking of His good handtowards them – acting powerfully for them in His kindness. They should feelgreatly impressed by the eternal love of God towards them, undeservingsinners though they are. It was in that love that God sent His only begotten
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December - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

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